The Diet Diaries of Bryce “Krabshark” Krawczyk

I have been guiding the nutrition of powerlifter Bryce Krawczyk since 2017. 

Previous to our work together, Bryce was an accomplished lifter - placing 2nd at the 2016 IPF Classic World Championships. But, like many other good lifters, Bryce had identified nutrition as a missing piece of his process. The goal of this piece is to detail how things have gone since then - the strategies, planning and mindsets we’ve taken to take his lifting and performance to the next level. 
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In my experience, most capable nutrition experts fall into two categories fall into two categories: 

• have the knowledge and skills to influence the eating behaviours of clients, but not enough experience improving body composition in relation to weight classes
• understand the demands of the sport, but aren’t evidence based or dogmatic in their approach, using less than ideal methods with the lifter

In my practice, I try to blend both of these approaches to deliver a comprehensive and practical program. 

Also, I want to be clear - our work together has been intermittent, there have been times where we took planned time off from this focus (an important and overlooked part of the process).  

I’m detailing our work together because it’s not often you get to work with a high level athlete over a long period of time and this experience sheds insight  into long-term nutrition planning, short term weight manipulation, behaviour and psychology, and weight class strategy. 

Without further ado: 

When we started, his nutritional habits were similar to many of my clients: 

• Protein intake on the low end of optimal range (1.7 g/kg), with big swings day to day
• Inconsistent food intake on a day to day basis 
• Overall energy intake around maintenance, without a periodized focus
  • like many involved in resistance training, Bryce knew what to do, but lacked adherence and direction 

Immediately, I took into account his normal food habits, assessed how things looked objectively (calories and macronutrients) and set a plan with his weight classes in reference. 
Then through the years, we started to focus on different phases with different intents to make sure his nutrition reflected his goals, with the overall aim to make him the most competitive strength athlete possible. In each phase, I want to outline what the focus and plan was with his body weight and nutrition, plus what actually happened and what lessons were learned. 

Phase 1: Optimizing a weight class (2017-2018)

FOCUS: With most clients, the goal is to fill out the weight class and be slightly above (making minimal week-of weight manipulations) in the effort to make the athlete bigger than the competition (viable strategy in weight class sports). So In 2017, we started the process of optimizing Bryce’s body weight and body composition within the 105 kg class. The first meet we prepared for was the 2017 CPU National in Quebec. Bryce was getting into equipped lifting and planned to do both contests on back to back days (Friday March 17/Saturday March 18). With the back to back weigh-ins, with one of the contests being equipped, I decided to get him safely in the weight class so he could eat and drink throughout and just as important, his gear fitted similarly in training to how it would on game day. 

PLAN: SO, for the 5 weeks leading up to the contest we put him on a slight deficit and took him from 106 kg to ~103 kg the week of the contest.  We would then find the highest level of food that would put him closer to maintenance levels and keep him within striking range of 105 kg. 

OUTCOME: Even with the initial weight loss, Bryce performed well in training and generally felt better. Probably due to the increases in protein and food quality. We actually got a bit ahead of the process and we are able to ramp his carbs up leading into the week of the meet. 

Bryce was able to make weight both times (103.8 first, 103.1 raw second) and win both weight classes with 898 and 797.5 kg totals respectively. PB in the equipped meet. 

Past this time, Bryce was able to maintain between 105 - 109 kg (0-2.5% above weight class - something I detail more fully in the "Way of the Weigh-In") for a full 18 months leading into some other premier events: IPF Equipped World Championships 2017, CPU Nationals 2018, and IPF Classic World  Championships 2018 all in the 105 kg class. His energy intake ranged between ~3300 - 3600 kcal for the most part, but one of the biggest changes was his dedication to protein intake (~230-250 grams) down the stretch. 

Additionally, there were two local meets and the Arnold invitational in this time where we decided to lift as is (~108 kg) to meet qualifiers or focus solely on performance without short term weight manipulations. The decision to make a weight class should really depend on the goals for your event - determining the aim and being realistic about what’s going on (Arnold two weeks after 3-lift Nationals etc) in your life and training. 

CLIFF NOTES: 

• most advanced raw lifters should try to maximize body comp in a weight class by sitting ~3% above the weight class and doing some minimal week of manipulations to make weight
• Multiple weigh-ins within days warrant being closer 
• Equipped lifting is tricky - probably best sitting closer to game day weight (even with recomp/rehydration strategies) so the way the gear fits is familiar

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Phase 2: Pushing the leanness (2018)​

FOCUS: Intent is always important - sometimes it means maintaining your weight, but it can also mean changing focus into fat loss or muscle gain (and subsequent weight changes) to improve as a strength athlete. After the 2018 Classic Worlds, Bryce wanted a change so after a bunch of beers we decided to go into a fat loss phase to re-optimimize his body comp. 

NOTE: He wanted to get leaner - I wanted to move Connor, Bryce and myself into the same training/housing compound (“the brodome”) where Dillon would document us getting as shredded as possible. 

PLAN: We decided to push for ~100 kg from 108-109 over a 3-4 month period. Based on the past phases, I knew a ~10% calorie drop over this period should do the trick. 

OUTCOME: Bryce transitioned to eating lower levels of food - focusing on food volume and hitting his protein targets. His energy intake got as low as ~2700 kcal per day, as weight got closer to 102-103, then past that point we were able to start ramping things up as he got more active and weight dropped as low as 100 kg while eating more (3200-3500 kcal). 

CLIFF NOTES: 

• Strength athletes benefit from phases - most of their time should be spent above maintenance energy intake so they can perform well and gain muscle, but brief periods of cutting can help break up the monotony and re-sensitize their hormones
  
• Future Brodomes TBD
  

Phase 3: CREATING THE ULTIMATE LUNCH LADY (2019)

FOCUS: After the cut, we worked his food intake up to fill 105 kg back in and he lifted at 2019 CPU Nationals in the 105 kg class. At a certain point, the best way for a strength athlete to improve their strength is to fill in a heavier weight class - so the decision was made to work up into the 120 kg class. 

This was one part necessity - at a certain level, eating near maintenance levels would hinder the potential to get strong and hit some lifelong milestones. But additionally, the competition level was more favourable in the -120 kg class at the International level. So we decided to take the plunge and join the big boys (read not biggest boys) a weight class up. 

PLAN: In most cases, quality weight doesn’t go on as fast as less favourable weight comes off, we wanted to make the slow climb up to 115-116 so Bryce was near the top of the class, but given his deadlifting advantage could always tie competitors and come up on top (being one of the lighter competitors). 

But, in my experience lifters don’t just hang out in the middle of the weight class. For whatever reason, once you decide to go up, you just go up and 109 turns into 114 in what feels overnight. Part of this is intended, but the other part is subconscious (more relaxed around tracking/controlling). 

OUTCOME: Gaining a bunch of weight isn’t as easy or fun as it sounds. Since we were a bit more relaxed around tracking (i.e taking 2-3 days off per week) we used a few strategies to keep Bryce moving in the right direction. 

The first one was setting a basement level of calories - we always try to stick within ranges, but the “basement” is a better visual for most clients. Don’t go under this, you need to make it here. Thus the basement was set at 4,000 calories and Bryce knew to keep pushing he would need to get there each day. To me the goal of consistency isn’t being perfect each day, but a bunch of good days all strung together.  #nodaysunder4K 

On the off days, his only goal was not to come back into normal routine weighing any lighter. This set the intent for his eating. 

Lastly, to eat 4000+ kcals each, you need to eat some less healthy food to get there (candy, higher fat meat). It left Bryce feeling rather sluggish and unwell, so we set some structure around food choices that would help improve his overall health and well-being. It looked like this: 

1) Include 1 serving of fruit or vegetable every time you eat
2) Include 1 anti-inflammatory fat source every time you eat (minus pre-workout meals, just to help digestion). Think nuts, seeds, trail mix, hummus, olive oil, coconut oil and chips, fish etc. 
 
This was a big game changer in the way Bryce viewed his nutrition. 
 
CLIFF NOTES: 

• Strength athletes benefit from phases - in this phase we made the decision for Bryce to fill in 120 kg
  
• At a certain level, gaining weight isn’t any fun either. It’s a lot of work. Setting some structure around minimum food intake and making healthy choices strikes a balance between feeling good and gaining weight. ​
  

SUMMARY

Working with anyone, let alone a high-caliber athlete like Bryce, for years is a privilege. You get to put some long term planning into action and flex your behavioural change muscles to keep things moving. 


Some of the biggest lessons from this period are:

1. There is always a time and place - there is a time to be lenient with less structure, and a time to dial it all in and push forward. 
2. At a certain level, strength athletes must focus on nutrition. Obviously, there are physical benefits (performance, recovery etc), but one of the biggest off paper benefits of this is intention and focus - focusing on nutrition is important, but leaving no stone unturned? That builds certainty and confidence.

Want to learn more Bryce's experience with nutrition? Check out the we had detailing his experience.